It’s not marriage, it’s the divorce: Tyler Perry explains why he never wants to get married
By Katemarthason Okudo, September 15, 2026Billionaire filmmaker, actor, and producer Tyler Perry has explained why he has no plans to get married, saying it is the possibility of divorce and its financial consequences that concerns him.
Perry made the remarks while appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday, September 14, 2026, where he was asked whether marriage was something he could see himself pursuing.
The filmmaker gave a brief response before explaining the thinking behind his decision. “Nope,” Perry said when asked if he would ever get married.
Tyler Perry on why he avoids marriage
Perry explained that he does not necessarily have a problem with marriage itself but is concerned about what can happen when a marriage ends.
He said he had seen people he knew lose their wealth following divorce, making him cautious about entering an institution that could eventually lead to such a situation.
“It’s not the marriage that bothers me, it’s the divorce. Everybody that I know that did well and went broke, it was because of a divorce. So I’m good just being free,” he said.
Perry also admitted that another reason marriage makes him cautious is his view of honesty in relationships. “What makes me think about marriage is that people are liars,” he said.
His comments come from a personal perspective, with the filmmaker choosing to remain unmarried despite having built a long career in Hollywood and becoming one of the entertainment industry’s most successful filmmakers.
Tyler Perry returns to marriage story
Perry’s comments about marriage come as he continues to explore relationships and married life through his work. His latest film, Why Did I Get Married Again?, revisits the characters and relationship struggles from the Why Did I Get Married? franchise.
The film continues the story of couples dealing with the changes that come with long-term relationships, including love, trust, communication, and the challenges that can put marriages under pressure.
Perry created and wrote the original Why Did I Get Married?, which was released in 2026. The story centred on four married couples who travelled together and confronted problems within their relationships.
The success of the first film led to Why Did I Get Married Too? in 2010, bringing the same characters back as they dealt with further changes in their marriages.
Perry explores marriage again
Perry has continued returning to relationship themes in his films, often using marriage as a setting to explore personal choices and the difficulties people face in maintaining relationships.
His latest project comes at an interesting time, considering his own comments about why he has chosen not to marry.
While his films continue to examine the highs and lows of married life, Perry has made it clear that he is comfortable observing those experiences through storytelling rather than entering marriage himself.
For the filmmaker, remaining unmarried is a personal choice, with his concerns about divorce playing a major role in how he views the institution.